[b][u][i]The Overlord Isn't Another Isekai Protagonist, Is He?[/i][/u][/b] is currently in early access and my review will cover it in its current, unfinished state!
[h1]Hell has never looked so colourful - or so hot![/h1]
For anyone who doesn't know an Isekai is a subgenre of fantasy in which a character is suddenly transported from their world into a new or unfamiliar one.
Imagine; you wake up in a strange place, you have a splitting headache, you don't remember how you got there (or much of anything really), and there, standing in front of you are two very colourful, skimpy-dressed demonesses. What is the first thing you think? That you passed out from drinking too much and there must be a cosplay convention nearby? Not only are you likely sane, but you also share the same thought process as our charming protagonist, Kay!
A young man in his mid 20's awakes with no recollection of his life, how he got here, or even his name; all he knows is that he's got a throbbing headache, his back and tailbone are killing him, and there are two girls nearby musing over him. The two try to explain the situation to him while he logically tries to think about what might have happened to him. He's obviously panicked and when the girls ask what to call him, he mutters an "Okay" while trying to think. Both women mistake this to mean his name is Kay, and with no alternative, this becomes his new name. He is then informed he is in hell and has been reincarnated as an incubus. Despite not remembering anything, Kay is sure someone has made a mistake and that he doesn't belong here, especially as a sex demon. Things become too much for him when he's told all that pain his body feels is from his newly gained horns, tail and wings (which are smaller than most incubi possess), he passes out and from there, we are launched into the near future where Kay has already had some time to process and be forced to assimilate into his new role.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2976557586
The bulk of the story revolves around Kay desperately trying to get his case looked at. He whole-hearted believes someone has made a mistake. This fact is made more apparent as he feels no desire to gain lust energy from sleeping around; quite the opposite. Unfortunately for him, refusing to do this means having his life force drained instead. He's constantly tired and looks like a mess. Trying to find evidence that he shouldn't have been sent to hell, he inadvertently drags his new acquaintances into a far bigger, far more dangerous plot. This only gets worse when Lady Lust herself takes an interest in her new demon.
Kay is often tired and teased (or outright bullied) by his peers. Although he now does not need to do so, he clings to his humanity by practising daily routines such as sleeping, showering and even brushing his teeth. He's generally got a whiney personality, is a bit of a hopeless romantic, has an affinity for catgirls and video games and has a single-minded determination to get out of this (literal) hell-hole.
Kali and Shay are the two demonesses that were there when Kay originally awoke in his new world. The two girls are sisters but their personalities are polar opposites. Shay comes across as a bubbly, friendly and sensitive person. She's always right there with her positive attitude and determination to help. Kali on the other hand takes on a far more aggressive approach. She is quick to insult and has a short temper. Getting her to open up and be upfront will prove quite the challenge. Despite this, the two are very close and are often seen together. As imps, they have a lower hierarchy than incubus/succubus.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2976109639
Etienne, or Tien for short is a reaper, or well, a former reaper. After screwing up big time, not once but twice, Lady Lust demoted him. He now has the unfortunate fate of being Kay's babysitter- er I mean handler. Sporting a simpable French accent, quick wit and a sharp tongue, he's a force to be reckoned with even without his scythe. His distinguishing features are his bone-like tail and large Doberman ears, but never call him Doggy.
Lux is a floating lump of coal-type creature and Kay's familiar. Not much is known about familiars in hell as they are rare, apart from the fact they are lost souls that are forced to serve. Despite this, Lux is more of a bully to Kay, always mocking him but when push comes to shove... well, he's not always there to help. Shortly into the story, Lux transforms into a more humanoid shape claiming some pretty outrageous things. I won't spoil it though!
The Overlord Isn't Another Isekai Protagonist, Is He? is fully voiced in English with outstanding quality by talented actors; each hitting the right tones at the right time. I was very surprised by the standard in such a low-priced VN.
In this novel, hell is a damned reflection of Earth. You have all the standards and technology Earth has in a darker, gaudy, cyberpunk theme. The art style, both the backgrounds and sprites show this off in an outstanding level of gorgeously detailed aptitude that can be classed as a feast for the eyes. The dark undertones with the bright flashes of colour, whether that be neon signs or unnatural hair colour work really well together to draw you into the world.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2993928491
This is a mature game and does have sexual content (if being a newly made incubus didn't give that away) but it is neither forced upon you nor just there for the sack of it; it links into the story seamlessly and comes with its own struggles for Kay. Remember, he doesn't want to be a sex demon and he actively fights against it, but we can't always fight our nature! As for what you can expect, it's well-written, steamy and enjoyable content. Just don't expect too much as this is only the early access game and things are fairly tame, for now at least, I can't comment on how things will unfold further down the line, but I am confident that things will only get better with time!
Another thing of note is that from time to time you'll come across a point-and-click type puzzle. As Kay, you will have to search the area and piece together information and find clues to move forward. Nothing challenging but it adds that nice degree of variety to the game as well as makes your presence feel more validated. In addition to this aspect of the game, I also found a seemingly optional, easy, hidden object game (I'm unsure if it is mandatory or there for an additional scene as it happened right before the end of the early access) as well as a simple combat section. All of these little things add an enjoyable impact overall and give the sense of taking a more active stance within the story.
But, would I recommend The Overlord Isn't Another Isekai Protagonist, Is He?? 100% yes! This VN may be in early access but it is far more polished and promising than a lot of other games I have played in the past. It offers so much high-quality work for a very low price (that price is subject to change for the full release, however). If you are even the slightest bit interested, I'd say get it!
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